To promote employment of Bhutanese workers in industries, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources is in the process of signing agreements with industries in Phuentshogling. The initiative started with five industries signing the Memorandum of Understanding yesterday.
Over 45 industries including hotels based in Phuentsholing will be signing the MoU with the labour ministry in the next five days.
According the industrialists, even in absence of an understanding with the ministry, they have been giving employment preferences to Bhutanese jobseekers first. However, at times, they say need arises for workers from outside the country.
“In my company, I have over 400 regular employees. Of that, only two of them have been hired from outside. It’s only because we installed a new machine last year and despite of looking for competent and skilled people to operate the machine, we couldn’t find one in our job market,” said Sangay Khandu of Bhutan Board Products Limited.
Phub Dorji of Druk Iron and Steel Private Ltd says when it comes to manual works not many Bhutanese are interested. “So, we have to hire people from outside,” he asserted.
Industrialists said there is a mismatch between the skills acquired at the vocational training institutes and the skills required in the companies. They also added that there is a need for an intervention by the government to control job-hopping.
“From our industry more than 20 Bhutanese employees left for hydropower projects. They work for two to three years with us, gain experience and leave and the projects, they don’t even need ‘No Objection Certificates’ from former employers,” said Dawa Tshering of Bhutan Ferro Alloys Limited.
The labour minister, Ngeema Sangay Tshempo, said there is a need for the industries to draw a standard legal agreement with the employee in collaboration with respective labour offices in the region. For the mismatch of skills, Lyonpo urged the industrialists to take part in consultative meetings organised by the ministry while formulating training curriculums for vocational training institutes.
“It’s our responsibility to support the industries. So if the industries could come up with manpower forecasting plans, then accordingly we can plan the curriculum and train the people,” he added.
Meanwhile, along with the signing, Lyonpo will also visit the industries. Similar Understanding has already been signed with seven industries in Samdrupjongkhar. For eight industries in Samtse, the signing will be carried out next week.
